If you're looking to buy a new boiler, then you might be wondering if a high-efficiency boiler is the way to go. There are many differences between a standard boiler and a high-efficiency one. Of course the biggest difference is price, but there are even more factors to consider than that.
The Differences in Boiler Features
Standard boilers and high-efficiency boilers have some differences in their features. Older boilers use natural currents to generate a discharge of combustion. They also have a pilot light and a heavy heat exchanger. Standard boilers that you can buy today are built with an exhaust to conduct the combustion process with more accuracy. High-efficiency boilers are constructed with closed combustion and double heat exchanges, which adds more precision and efficiency to the heating process.
The Differences in Energy Usage
One difference in standard boilers and high-efficiency boilers is the way each boiler utilizes the energy it produces. When standard boilers create heat, some of the energy that is generated from the creation of heat is not used and therefore wasted, which also wastes money. High-efficiency heaters are constructed to prevent any heat from escaping to use all the heat created so no energy or heat is wasted. Standard boilers not only waste money by not efficiently using all the heat created, it also wastes fuel. High-efficiency boilers use more of the heat created so less fuel is wasted in the creation of heat.
The Differences in Boiler Ratings
Each boiler has a rating to help you easily compare the energy usage. This rating system is called AFUE, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A boiler's AFUE is decided based on how much heat it generates and the amount of energy used over the course of a year. According to energy.gov, standard boilers have a rating of 56 percent to 83 percent. Older boilers will be on the lower end of that scale, while new boilers will be higher. High-efficiency boilers have a rating of 90 percent to 98.5 percent. As you can see that is a significant difference that translates to be more eco-friendly as well as being less expensive to run.
As you can see there are many differences between a standard boiler and a high-efficiency one. Anything that is labeled high-efficiency is going to cost more to purchase, which is a significant difference if you are on a budget. The other differences are energy and the expense to run each type of boiler. For more information, contact HVAC Fred's Plumbing & Heating or a similar company.
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